HablaDoc

Welcome to the HablaDoc Committee!

The MCC HablaDoc aims to improve medical students’ confidence and ability to communicate with Spanish speaking patients through interactive educational, cultural, and clinical communication focused events. Through our experiences at the Equal Access Clinic Network (EACN), we have seen the large number of Spanish speaking patients served within our community and the significant gap that language barriers can create in patient care,
communication, and accessibility.

Our goal is to help bridge this gap by creating opportunities for students of all Spanish proficiency levels to develop practical communication skills that can better support Spanish speaking patients in clinical settings. By partnering with EACN and collaborating with existing language access initiatives, we hope to promote more equitable, compassionate, and effective patient care while fostering cultural humility and confidence among medical students.

Potential Events for the Academic Year

● Medical Spanish Nights
● Spanish pronunciation and speech sessions
● Medical Spanish Trivia
● Interpreter skills workshops
● Patient communication simulations
● Collaboration with EACN Spanish Nights
● Beginner friendly conversation groups
● Specialty specific medical Spanish sessions
● Peer mentorship between fluent and beginner speakers

Faculty Advisors:

Lucy Guerra M.D., Professor of Medicine, Faculty Co-Advisor, Equal Access Clinic Network, Assistant Clerkship Director, Continuity Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine

Jessica Portillo, MD., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine